Vehicle seating system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11801776-B2
Application number	US-202017115889-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 9, 2020
Priority date	Dec 9, 2020
Publication date	Oct 31, 2023
Grant date	Oct 31, 2023

Abstract

A vehicle seating system includes a seatback pivotally coupled to a seat base. The seatback is operable between an upright position and a reclined position. A lift assembly is operably coupled to the seat base. The lift assembly is operable between a disengaged position and an engaged position. A position sensor is coupled to the lift assembly via a ball joint, wherein the ball joint and the position sensor adjust with movement of the lift assembly. A seat controller communicatively is coupled to the position sensor, wherein the seat controller determines if the lift assembly is in the disengaged position or has moved to the engaged position based on position data received from the position sensor.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle seating system, comprising:
a seatback pivotally coupled to a seat base, wherein the seatback is operable between an upright position and a reclined position;
a lift assembly operably coupled to the seat base, wherein the lift assembly is vertically operable between a disengaged position and an engaged position to vertically adjust a rearward edge of the seat base;
a position sensor coupled to the lift assembly via a ball joint, wherein the ball joint and the position sensor adjust with vertical movement of the lift assembly; and
a seat controller communicatively coupled to the position sensor, wherein the seat controller determines if the lift assembly is in the disengaged position or has moved to the engaged position based on position data received from the position sensor, the position data including a vertical displacement of the lift assembly.

2. The vehicle seating system of claim 1 , wherein the seat controller determines a vehicle speed from a controller area network.

3. The vehicle seating system of claim 2 , wherein the seat controller activates at least one alert when the vehicle speed is at or above a predetermined speed threshold and the lift assembly is in the engaged position.

4. The vehicle seating system of claim 3 , wherein the at least one alert includes a visual alert and an audible alert.

5. The vehicle seating system of claim 1 , further comprising:
an alert feature communicatively coupled to the seat controller, wherein the seat controller communicates an alert signal to the alert feature.

6. The vehicle seating system of claim 5 , wherein the alert feature displays a visual alert and emits an audible alert in response to the alert signal.

7. The vehicle seating system of claim 1 , wherein the seat controller determines a position of the lift assembly in response to the position data from the position sensor, and wherein the position data includes a pulse width modulation value.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Kulhawik Benjamin
• Del Puerto Antonio
• Craig Ryan John

Classifications

• B60K35/80

  Arrangements for controlling instruments · CPC title

• B60K35/28

  characterised by the type of the output information, e.g. video entertainment or vehicle dynamics information; characterised by the purpose of the output information, e.g. for attracting the attention of the driver · CPC title

• B60K35/26

  using acoustic output · CPC title

• B60N2/0244 Primary

  with logic circuits · CPC title

• B60N2/0279

  for detecting objects outside the vehicle, e.g. for user identification · CPC title